Intelligent communication screening to restrict spam
First Claim
1. A communication screening system comprising:
- a memory storing computer-executable instructions; and
a computer processor in communication with the memory, the computer-executable instructions programming the computer processor in;
registering a contacted entity for communication screening, wherein said registering comprises configuring in association with a first identifier identifying the contacted entity, a first action blocking communications to the contacted entity from any entity classified as a spammer and a second action allowing communications to the contacted entity from any entity not classified as a spammer;
intercepting a communication intended for delivery to the contacted entity;
extracting from the communication, the first identifier identifying the contacted entity and a second identifier identifying a contacting entity originating the communication;
selecting said configuration from a plurality of configurations based on said extracting of the first identifier from the communication;
retrieving a set of reviews and ratings relating to experiences others have had with the contacting entity using the second identifier extracted from the communication;
screening the communication according to said contacted entity configuration by (i) performing the first action from said configuration and blocking the communication from reaching the contacted entity when the set of reviews and ratings express overall negative sentiment towards the contacting entity and (ii) performing the second action from said configuration and allowing the communication to reach the contacted entity when the set of reviews and rating express overall positive sentiment towards the contacting entity.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided to restrict the ability of a spammer to freely contact an entity over a communication channel. To do so, the system reconfigures a communication channel used to contact the target entity such that the system can intercept a communication from a source contacting entity en route to the target entity. The system extracts an identifier (e.g., contacting entity'"'"'s telephone number) from the communication and uses the identifier to query a database storing information about the contacting entity. The information reveals the contacting entity'"'"'s industry, occupation, credibility, etc. From this information, the system automatically identifies the contacting entity as a spammer, potential spammer, or non-spammer. The system performs a default screening of the communication based on the classification. Alternatively, the target contacted entity can specify a configuration for different actions the system takes to screen the communication based on the source contacting entity classification.
41 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A communication screening system comprising:
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a memory storing computer-executable instructions; and a computer processor in communication with the memory, the computer-executable instructions programming the computer processor in; registering a contacted entity for communication screening, wherein said registering comprises configuring in association with a first identifier identifying the contacted entity, a first action blocking communications to the contacted entity from any entity classified as a spammer and a second action allowing communications to the contacted entity from any entity not classified as a spammer; intercepting a communication intended for delivery to the contacted entity; extracting from the communication, the first identifier identifying the contacted entity and a second identifier identifying a contacting entity originating the communication; selecting said configuration from a plurality of configurations based on said extracting of the first identifier from the communication; retrieving a set of reviews and ratings relating to experiences others have had with the contacting entity using the second identifier extracted from the communication; screening the communication according to said contacted entity configuration by (i) performing the first action from said configuration and blocking the communication from reaching the contacted entity when the set of reviews and ratings express overall negative sentiment towards the contacting entity and (ii) performing the second action from said configuration and allowing the communication to reach the contacted entity when the set of reviews and rating express overall positive sentiment towards the contacting entity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A communication screening system comprising:
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a memory storing computer-executable instructions; and a computer processor in communication with the memory, the computer-executable instructions programming the computer processor in; obtaining from a contacted entity, a set of industries or occupations the contacted entity does not want to receive communications from; intercepting a communication intended for delivery to the contacted entity; extracting from the communication, an identifier identifying a contacting entity originating the communication; retrieving an industry or occupation of the contacting entity using the identifier extracted from the communication; screening the communication by (i) providing the communication to the contacted entity when the industry or occupation of the contacting entity is not one in the set of industries or occupations enumerated by the contacted entity, and (ii) blocking the communication from the contacted entity when the industry or occupation of the contacting entity is one within said set of industries or occupations. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A communication screening system comprising:
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a memory storing computer-executable instructions; and a computer processor in communication with the memory, the computer-executable instructions programming the computer processor in; intercepting at the communication screening system, a first communication originating from a contacting entity intended for delivery to a first contacted entity; determining that the contacting entity cannot be classified to one of a first classification and a second classification based on available information about the contacting entity; prescreening the first communication by passing a set of verification questions to the contacting entity while continuing blocking delivery of the first communication to the first contacted entity as a result of determining that the contacting entity cannot be classified; forwarding the first communication to the first contacted entity in response to receiving answers to the set of verification questions from the contacting entity; providing at conclusion of the first communication as a result of said forwarding, a prompt from the communication screening system with which the first contacted entity provides input classifying the contacting entity to one of the first classification and the second classification; intercepting at the communication screening system, a second communication from the contacting entity directed to any of the first contacted entity or a different second contacted entity; classifying the contacting entity to one of the first classification and the second classification using the answers to the set of verifications questions provided by the contacting entity and the input provided by the first contacted entity at conclusion of the first communication; and screening the second communication by (i) performing a first action for the second communication in response to classifying the contacting entity to the first classification and (ii) performing a second action for the second communication in response to classifying the contacting entity to the second classification. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification